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Long-range and rapid transport of individual nano-objects by a hybrid electrothermoplasmonic nanotweezer

Nature Nanotechnology volume 11, pages 53–59 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Plasmon-enhanced optical trapping is being actively studied to provide efficient manipulation of nanometre-sized objects. However, a long-standing issue with previously proposed solutions is how to controllably load the trap on-demand without relying on Brownian diffusion. Here, we show that the photo-induced heating of a nanoantenna in conjunction with an applied a.c. electric field can initiate rapid microscale fluid motion and particle transport with a velocity exceeding 10 μm s–1, which is over two orders of magnitude faster than previously predicted. Our electrothermoplasmonic device enables on-demand long-range and rapid delivery of single nano-objects to specific plasmonic nanoantennas, where they can be trapped and even locked in place. We also present a physical model that elucidates the role of both heat-induced fluidic motion and plasmonic field enhancement in the plasmon-assisted optical trapping process. Finally, by applying a d.c. field or low-frequency a.c. field (below 10 Hz) while the particle is held in the trap by the gradient force, the trapped nano-objects can be immobilized into plasmonic hotspots, thereby providing the potential for effective low-power nanomanufacturing on-chip.

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Figure 1: Experimental facility.
Figure 2: Theoretical analysis of ETP flow.
Figure 3: Particle transport and trapping forces.
Figure 4: Particle trapping and immobilization.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (grant no. DMR-1120923). J.C.N. acknowledges partial support from Purdue Water Institute. The authors thank M. Ferrera and N. Kinsey for help with preparation of the manuscript and M. Segev for discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, Indiana, USA

    Justus C. Ndukaife, Alexander V. Kildishev, Vladimir M. Shalaev & Alexandra Boltasseva

  2. Water Institute, Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, 46323, Indiana, USA

    Justus C. Ndukaife & Agbai George Agwu Nnanna

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering and Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, 47907, Indiana, USA

    Steven T. Wereley

  4. Department of Photonics Engineering, DTU Fotonik, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark

    Alexandra Boltasseva

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  1. Justus C. Ndukaife
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  3. Agbai George Agwu Nnanna
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  4. Vladimir M. Shalaev
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Contributions

J.C.N. conceived, designed and performed the experiments and numerical simulations, and wrote the manuscript. A.G.A.N. provided useful discussions on the project, discussed the results and edited the manuscript. A.V.K. provided useful discussions on the numerical simulations and edited the manuscript. V.M.S. contributed to discussion of the results. S.T.W. provided the tools used for micro-PIV analysis, provided useful discussions on the project, discussed the results and edited the manuscript. A.B. supervised the project, discussed the progress and results, and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Alexandra Boltasseva.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Ndukaife, J., Kildishev, A., Nnanna, A. et al. Long-range and rapid transport of individual nano-objects by a hybrid electrothermoplasmonic nanotweezer. Nature Nanotech 11, 53–59 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2015.248

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